BCCC strives to fill need with emergency medical training | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Beaufort County Community College is striving to fill the need for emergency medical services in the region by offering several courses that prepare first responders to help with medical emergencies.

    These courses include paramedic courses that are still accepting enrollments to train first responders to be able to offer the most advanced care to those needing prompt medical attention.

    Paramedic courses are being offered 6 to 9:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays through Nov. 5, 2014 and for those working a shift schedule, BCCC is offering a "flip-flop" schedule 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays to give students the chance to attend either day.

    The classes are offered through BCCC's Division of Continuing Education and are under the direction of Stephen E. Taylor, former Dare County Deputy Public Safety Director, who has extensive experience providing medical services to residents over a broad geographic region.

    "Beaufort County Community College is striving to help meet the health care needs of residents in our four-county service area," said Dr. Barbara Tansey, BCCC president. "The first-responders trained at BCCC play a vital role in providing up-to-date medical care for the region and will play an even more important role in the future."

    Although the paramedic classes have already begun, students can still enroll through mid-December, Taylor said.

    "Motivated students usually have little problem making up the missed work as most of the initial lessons are updated reviews of intermediate Emergency Medical Technician material, assuring that students have close to the same knowledge," Taylor said.

    Employment of Emergency Medical Technicians, or EMTs, and paramedics is expected to grow by 33 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage of EMTs and paramedics was $30,360 in May 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

    The paramedic training is just one of several opportunities available to individuals who desire first-responder training at BCCC, Taylor said.

    BCCC will offer Emergency Medical Technician, or EMT, training 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Jan. 9 and ending May 15 for those who would like to learn essential skills need to help in life-saving situations.

    Intermediate EMT training will be offered 6 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Jan. 13 and ending May 14 for those who would like more advanced life-saving skills.

    Other specialty courses and professional development courses are also being offered.

    Many allow students to complete a portion of their course work via the Internet.

    "EMTs learn skills to help their communities and their neighbors not just in emergencies but every day," Taylor said.

    For more information about the courses offered to provide training for medical emergencies, visit the BCCC website at www.beaufortccc.edu/coned or contact Taylor by telephone at (252) 940-6297 or by email at stevet@beaufortccc.edu.


    Beaufort County Community College is a public comprehensive community college committed to accessible and affordable quality education, effective teaching, relevant training, and lifelong learning opportunities for the people served by the College.